BURNABY – Twelve year old Alshaan Kassam won the prestigious Carter Cup after placing first in the Burnaby District Public Speaking contest held on Thursday.
Students had to write and deliver a 3 to 5 minute speech on a common theme. This year’s theme was, “The next step”.
Top two students from each school are selected to represent their school at a zone presentation. The best two students from each zone advanced to the District Finals.
Judges determined the top three orators of the Grade 7 Public Speaking Challenge. Of these three, Alshaan Kassam placed first in the city of Burnaby. Alshaan is following in his big sister, Ashlih Kassam’s footsteps as she placed first in the District last year. This is the first time that two siblings have taken first place in this challenge two years running.
Winning the challenge is just the beginning of a whirlwind of prearranged speaking engagements for Alshaan. He will be presenting his speech to the Board of Education in a televised meeting followed by a presentation to the Retired Teachers’ Association, the District Parent Advisory Council and the Rotary Club of Burnaby. Alshaan will also present at the Words Writing Project gala event in June.
Alshaan Kassam is my great grand nephew. He is also the nephew of Ali Velshi who is CNN’s Chief Business Correspondent. So for Alshaan doing so well at speaking is not too much of a surprise.
Murad Velshi
Former MPP, Ontario.
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Congratulations Alshaan for winning the Cup this year and Ashlih for winning it last year. Here is some related information on your heritage:
http://gonashgo.blogspot.com/2008/10/414two-magnificent-accounts-describing.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murad_Velshi
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